Latest News

Caribbean Export launches programme to support regional businesswomen

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC)— Caribbean Export has launched a programme aimed at supporting Caribbean women in business by helping them to either start exporting or to increase their exports.

According to Caribbean Export, applications are now being accepted for the progamme – Women Empowered through Export or WE-Xport.

On Wednesday, Caribbean Export, in cooperation with the European Union announced the commencement of the programme that will assist in exports to the European Union and utilising the benefits of the CARIFORUM-EU economic partnership agreement.

"The European Union is therefore pleased to provide financial support to Caribbean Export's efforts to assist the growth and development of female-owned firms in the Caribbean to increase their competitiveness in the local, regional and international markets,” said EU Ambassador, Daniela Tramacere.

Executive Director at Caribbean Export, Pamela Coke-Hamilton, encouraged the regions female entrepreneurs to take full advantage of the WE-Xport programme and the opportunity to grow their businesses, connect with others and make their mark in our region, “we know you have the potential to do great things with your companies and with the right mix of support we aim to provide”.

WE-Xport will address women-owned businesses access to finance through the provision of workshops and technical assistance in partnership with the Barbados based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

“We recognise that access to finance is an obstacle too many women owned MSME in our Region face and therefore ensuring access to finance and business advisory services is essential to unlock the economic potential of the region” said Monica La Bennett, Vice President of Operations (CDB).

The programme will have an intensive business coaching programme to build the participants capacity and also increase their access to export markets and networks.

A memorandum of understanding was signed between Caribbean Export and UN Women as their commitment to work together in raising awareness around many of the challenges women face in conducting business and to advocate on their behalf to address these constraints and drive greater change and inclusion in our regional economies.

Representative from UN Women, Alison McLean says the economic empowerment of woman is one of the mail of objectives of UN Women and they have developed the “women empowerment principles which offer practical guidance to the private sector on how to empower women in the work place, market place and communities”.

Meanwhile, Senator Maxine McClean highlighted that many women operated “lifestyle businesses” often as a means to supplement income and was therefore pleased that the WE-Xport programme provides an opportunity to empower female entrepreneurs to move outside of their limitations.

The WE-Xport programme is open to businesses from CARIFORUM States that are at least 51 per centowned by a woman or women and has been in operation for at least two years.

ADVERTISEMENT

POST A COMMENT

HOUSE RULES

1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website
or in the newspaper ï¿½ email addresses will not be published.

2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been
submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.

3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic
under discussion.

4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.